FRESH STORM IN KENYA KWANZA AS KABOGO AND KURIA PULL OUT

A fresh storm is brewing within the Deputy President William Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza alliance with two parties now threatening to withdraw from the outfit.

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria’s Chama Cha Kazi Party and former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo’s Tujibebe Wakenya party have said that they will no longer attend any Kenya Kwanza rallies on grounds that United Democratic Alliance (UDA) politicians are allegedly given priority at the events while their members are being ‘bullied’ and gagged.

In a joint letter penned by Chama Cha Kazi Secretary General James Nage and his Tujibebe Party counterpart Wakili Gathii Irungu on Thursday, the two political outfits chronicled instances in which they were allegedly sidelined by UDA members on the campaign trail.

The letter was addressed to Kenya Kwanza co-principals DP Ruto, Amani National Congress boss Musalia Mudavadi and his Ford Kenya equal Moses Wetangula.

“On June 13, 2022, Moses Kuria the Party Leader Chama Cha Kazi had a day long activation in Thika Town Constituency. Kuria invited Kenya kwanza MCAs including the ones from UDA. On the eve of the activation, Hon Alice Nganga called all the UDA aspirants warning them not to participate in the activation and that there is no party called Kenya Kwanza,” the letter seen by Citizen Digital reads in part.

The letter further reads: “On the same day, a meeting of all UDA aspirants from Kiambu County was convened in Karen and chaired by DP Ruto and running mate Rigathi Gachagua to plan for a Hustler Express activation and a major rally in Ndumberi on Saturday June18, 2022. Neither of the Parties were invited for that planning meeting.”

The letter went on to allege that on the same day, Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwa allegedly organised a caucus in which UDA politicians were instructed to cut ties with any members of the Tujibebe or Chama Cha Kazi parties.

“UDA MCA Candidate Hon Kivyatu was severely reprimanded in that meeting for hosting Kuria in Ngoliba and he was threatened that the party can withdraw him as a candidate,” said Nage and Irungu in the letter.

The two secretary generals have likewise linked the chaotic scenes that marred a Kenya Kwanza rally held in Kiambu County on Wednesday where Senator Kimani Wamatangi and Kabogo were constantly at each other’s throats to the alleged UDA hardline stance.

According to the letter, The Service Party (TSP) leader Mwangi Kiunjuri was also embarrassed and subjected to the same treatment on June 2022 at Nyahururu and Nanyuki in front of coalition leaders DP Ruto, Kuria and Speaker JB Muturi.

“It is clear from the foregoing that whereas the UDA Party has no problem with ANC and Ford Kenya candidates in western Kenya, Maendeleo Chap Chap party candidates in lower Eastern and Pamoja African Alliance candidate in the Coast Region, a decision has been made by some quarters that parties with a strong footing in Mt. Kenya region are not wanted in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance,” reads the letter.

The two parties now want Kenya Kwanza principles to organize a meeting to deliberate on their complaints and chart a way forward.

By Citizen